Street sign



J. HORN! STREET SIGN Mrch 29, 1932.

Filed Marph l, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN 5Y5 J. HORN] STREET 5 IGN Fi led March 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. HORN] STREET S IGN March 29, 1932.

Filed March 1, 1930 C5 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES! PATENT QFFICEi JOSEPH- HORNI, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY STREET SIGN Application filed March 1,

the names of the streets which cross.

The

invention is directed to the provision of a novel street sign Wl'llCh includes means for supporting a pair 0 f sign elements which bear the names of the intersecting streets, the device being so const ructed that these elements may be mounted in different angular relations to correspond to the angle of intersection, and may be removed and replaced should occasion require.

One form of the sign of the invention 1ncludes a base member adapted to be secured toa suitable support such as a pole and arranged to support a sign element at its top.

Above the sign element is a two-part. block which rests on the sign element and supports another sign element above. The structure is completed by the provision of means for drawing together the base and the sign elements with the block between them, the elements being securely clamped in a selected angular relation and held against displacement.

Fig. 1 is a view spective;

of a complete sign in per- Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the pole clamp; V

Fig. 3 isfa similarview showing the man'- ner in which the lar er diameter;

clamp engages a pole of Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in section showing apart of the construction illustrate d in. Fig. 4

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig; 4;

Fig. 8 is a top p l'an view partly in section 193i).v Serial no. 432,465.

illustrating the top constructionof the base member;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of'one of the blocks used in the sign;

Fig; 10 is a top plan view of another block employed in the sign; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view approximately on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1 but showing the sign elements in a different angular relation.

Referring now to the drawings, the sign is illustrated in Fig. 1 as being mounted on a suitable support 20 which may take the form of a metal tube, a wooden pole, or the like. On the top of this support is secured the base member 21 of the sign and this member includes a cap 22 adapted to rest on top of the support and provided with a depending flange 23 having two parts disposed substantially' at right angles to each other and adapted to bear against the surface of the support. The flange terminates at its ends in' a pair of ea-rs'24 and a plate 25 of similar construction to the flange is-s'ecured to the cars 24 by'bolts 26. The flange'and plate together provide a clamp by which the base member may be secured to the support. The shape of the flange and the plate are such that the base member may be secured firmly to poles of different diameters as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and, in each instance, the outer surface ofthe pole is engaged between the recessed faces of the flange 23 and clamp 25, respectively.

At its top, the base is provided with a pair of parallel channels 27- on each side of the center of the base and a tube or rod 28 anchored in theto-p of the base member extends upwardly between the channels. A signelement rests'on' top of the base and this element may take the form of a sign plate 29 bearing the nameof a street or it may consist of a pair of plates or one or more frames '30 (Fig. 4:) each carrying a name plate similar to plate 29. Preferably each element comprises'two plates 29 and these plates are mounted one in each recess'27 in the top of the base member. Each channel 27 is preferably provided with a lug of wedge shape similar tolug42 shown in Fig. 8 which enters arecess 42 of similar shape in the edge of the plate as indicated in Fig. 1, so that when the parts are thus inter-engaged, the plate cannot be removed endwise relative to the base member. The two plates 29 are secured together at their ends by bolts 31 and the bolts when drawn up flex the plates and bring their ends substantially in contact.

Mounted on top of the sign element is a block 32 having a pair of channels 33 in its under surface in which the edges of the plates 29 are received. In these channels are lugs similar to those in the channels 27 and the upper edge of each plate has a recess in which the lug is received. The block 32 has an opening through which the rod 28 projects and is provided with a plurality of channels 34 formed in its upper surface (Fig. 10). In the form illustrated there are three such channels intersecting at the center of the opening through the block.

Resting on the block 32 is a second block 35 having an opening 36 through which the rod 28 extends. On the under surface of the block 35 is a rib 37 extending across the block from side to side but interrupted by the opening 36. The rib 37 is adapted to be received in any one of the channels 34 in the block 32 and the block 35 may be placed in different angular positions relative to the block 32. The block 35 is provided with a pair of channels 38 in its upper surface on opposite sides of an opening 38 through which the rod 28 extends.

Mounted on top of the block 35 is a second sign element consisting, for example, of plates 40 similar in construction to the plates 29 and secured together at their ends by bolts 41. Each plate 40 rests in a channel 38 in the top of block 35 and in each channel there is a lug 42 which is receivable into a recess in the lower edge of the plate 40. Resting on top of the upper sign element is a block 43 having a pair of spaced channels in its lower surface in which the upper edges of the plate 40 are receivable, these channels having lugs which enter recesses in the upper edges of the plates 40. The block 43 has an opening through which the rod 28 projects and the upper end of this rod is threaded as indicated at 44 and a knob 45 is screwed on the end of the rod.

In assembling the sign, the base member is first secured to the top ofthepole and clamped rigidly in position by drawing up the bolts 26. The plates constituting the lower sign element are then placed in the channels 27 on opposite sides of the rod 28 and the block 32 is slipped over the end of the rod and placed in position with the upper edges of the plates 29 entering the recesses 33 in the under surface of this block. The block 35 is then slipped over the rod to rest on top of the block 32 and the block 35 is placed with its rib 37 entering the desired channel 34 in the upper surface of the block 32. The position of the block 35 will be determined by the angle of intersection of the streets which the sign is intended to designate and since there are several channels 34 angularly disposed, the block 35 may be positioned so that the sign element which it carries will make a right angle to the lower sign element or some other angle corresponding to the angle of intersection.

After the block 35 is placed in position, the upper sign element is mounted in the channels in its upper surface, the block 43 placed in position, and the knob 45 threaded on top of the rod. By screwing up the knob, the parts are drawn tightly together so that the lower sign element is rigidly clamped between block 32 and base member 21, while the upper sign element is rigidly clamped between the blocks 35 and 43. Also, blocks 35 and 32 are forced into tight engagement. Inasmuch as the sign elements have parts which interlock with parts of the blocks which engage the elements on opposite sides, the elements cannot be displaced endwise and are thus rigidly secured in position in the desired angular relation.

Instead of using plates such as those designated 29 and 40 as the sign elements, these elements may consist of metal frames 30 provided with corner flanges 46. The frames have an open center and are adapted to receive plates 47 similar to the plates 29, these plates being placed in the frames and supported in position by the flanges. The frames are provided with ears 48 by which the ends of the frames may be secured together by bolts 49, the flanges 46 being brought into contact at the ends of the frames as indicated in Fig. 7. At the middle of its lower edge, each frame is provided with a downwardly extending flange 50 which is receivable into a channel in one of the blocks and the upper longitudinal member of the frame is provided with an upwardly extending flange 51 for the same purpose. Each of these flanges 50 and 51 has a recess 50 formed in it to receive the lugin the channel.

In order to maintain the plates 47 securely in position in the frames, there are provided cushioning members 52 which may take the form of rubber rings which are slipped over the rod 28 and placed so as to contact with the plates in the upper and lower frames. These rings hold the plates securely in position, prevent displacement and also prevent the plates from rattling in the wind. Similar cushioning means may be used in connection with sign elements in the form of plates used without frames.

What I claim:

1. I11 a sign, the combination of a base member, a sign element including a pair of sign plates resting on said base member, a- 7 rod attached to said base member and extending between said plates, means attached to the rod for forcing said plates against the base member, and cushion means between the plates and rod for spacing them apart.

2. In a sign, the combination of a base member having spaced channels in its top, a sign element comprising two parts, one resting in each channel, a rod attached to said member and extending between said parts of the element, means attached to the rod for holding said parts in their respective channels, and a cushion element interposed between the rod and said parts for holding them apart.

3. In a sign, the combination of a base member, a rod extending upwardly therefrom, a frame resting on the base member, a sign plate mounted 1n the frame, means attached to the rod for holding the frame in contact with the base member, and means on the rod for holding the sign plate in the frame.

4:. In a sign, the combination of a base member, a rod extending'upwardly from the base member, an open center frame resting on the base member, said frame having spaced flanges on its rear-surface, a plate mounted in said flanges and closing the opening in said frame, means on the rod for holding said frame in contact with the base member, and means on the rod for holding said plate in position in the flanges.

5. In a sign, the combination of a base member having a channel in its upper surface, a rod extending upwardly from the base member, an open center frame having flanges and a projection from one side entering said channel, a block on said rod having a channel in its under surface, said frame having a projection from its upper surface entering the channel in said block, a sign plate mounted in the frame, means on the rod for forcing the block toward the base member to clamp the frame, and means on the rod for forcing the plates against the flanges of said frame.

6. In a sign, the combination of a base member, a rod extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of sign elements resting on the base member, one on each side of the rod, a block engaging the tops of the sign elements, a second block resting on the first block, a pair of sign elements resting on the second block and lying on opposite sides of the rod, a third block engaging the tops of the sign elements resting on the second block, means on the rod engaging the third block for forcing said block toward the base member, and cushion means on the rod engaging the sign elements of both pairs for spacing them apart.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signaturev JOSEPH HORNI. 

